I know a couple of guys that are thinging about building a Turbo System for a "Just a Cooper". Has anyone had luck doing this before them. I think it sounds like a cool idea! Could be a real SLEEPER!
If they get it to work I will have them come up with a system for a 05 S! I have heard of people doing that but have not heard Good or Bad.....

 

It has been considered before. It is much cheaper and easier to trade you MC in for a MCS. A typical turbo kit costs in the ballpark of 3k which is the price difference between the MC and MCS.

 

I traded my 2003 Cooper for a 2005 S. Much easier and cheaper. The compression ratio of the first gen Cooper is dangerously high for a turbo add on. Not to mention the internals probably wouldn't handle a turbo either. And may God have mercy on your Cooper if it's got Midland tranny with that extra hp added.

 

I understand that it is better to start with the S. I am looking for my 4Th MINI S. I want another 2005 Jet Black S. But a couple of the techs think it would be cool, would be a sleeper.




For a little while!

 

R50 turbos have been roaming the streets for some time.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...turbo-kit.html

 

oxybluecoop, i just noticed traded your mc for a jcw turbo. congrats! i'm jealous. wanna swap engines so i can have a sleeper and i guess yours would become a sleeper in an opposite way?

 

Funny you mention swapping engines.I still have my MC and since it's paid for and about to become an MCS(minus the scoop) I won't be parting with it.

 

turbo upgrade does not make much sense in case there's a turbo version of the same car. just trade MC for MCS.

I compared similarly configured MC vs MCS. The difference was under $2.5k.

 

I'm a little confused here. Was the original point of this thread directed to 1st gen or 2nd gen "Just A Coopers?" I have no clue what the compression ratio is for a 2nd gen Cooper, so it's possible that a turbo application would work fine. However, the only real benefit of adding a turbo kit to a 2nd gen Cooper, is maybe you are the type of person who likes to experiment and fabricate parts, or you are looking to make a higher hp application than what's on the S. My opinion is, however, for either generation car, is leave the forced induction to the S model, due to the fact the engine is already built to handle the abuse. And since the 2nd gen uses a turbo anyway, why add one on when you can have a stock version? I'm sure you can add a bigger turbo later. Sure, you can do whatever to your car and I have seen the turbo kits for 1st gen Coopers, but if you must do this, please don't crank out crazy amounts of boost, or you'll probably be wishing you got the S version from the start. Trust me, you can make a Cooper S look like a sleeper for cheap.

 

We bought both the MC and MCS, very similarly configured, the difference was about $2.5k, and that included the price rise for 07 to 08.The 2nd gen Cooper has an even higher compression ration, 11:1 compared to 10.6:1. However, the 2nd gen MCS runs its turbo with a 10.5:1 compression ratio, which is very high for a turbo. (Compared to 8.3:1 for the 1st gen supercharger.)

 

Tons of naysayers around here keep saying no. But it can be done, it has been done. It will put a hurt on all but the most well filled wallets but it can be done. The weakest point will probably prove to be the Justa Midlands tranny. You'd most likely want to step up to an 05/06 6 speed to handle the power.

If you should decide to go down this path please contact me.

 

it can easily be done.... but it won't be cheap

 

WOW, that's high !! I'm a naysayer, but I know it can be done. I almost bought a turbo kit for my '03. With the high compression ratio, midland tranny, and military salary I said no to the turbo. It was easier for me to hunt down a used S. You can slap a turbo onto anything. I have a friend that turbo charged his Geo Tracker. It all boils down to whether you want to shell out the money or not.

 

Here's an idea if you really want a "sleeper" you buy an s and put a copper hood on it, the scoop on the 2nd gen s isn't functional anyway.

If you take it a step further you can replace all the badging and the side scuttles.

 

then the rear bumper/exhuast and i would be satisfied.

 

hmm, I didn't think about that, the bumper wouldn't be too hard, redoing the exhaust would be a pain though and possibly expensive.

 

HaHaHa Its just a thought! We will see what happens!!! Its always easy to talk about something. Either way its not my MINI or my idea. By the way I was talking about a 1st Gen car. if they do it it would all be for fun!

 

well if you were talking about a 1st gen, my idea wouldn't work, because the 1st gen S's have a supercharger, not a turbo, that uses the bonnet scoop as an intake.

A turbo would work in theory, but again that's $$$

 

A couple of our techs are thinking about putting one on one of the other MAs car. It just a thought & I understand that it could cost a bunch of cash. Thank you for your advice.

 

keep us in the loop on how it goes

 

i'm going to start a savings fund for a 2010 turbo conversion project. donations accepted.

 

LOL, not a bad idea !!!